Mike’s love of the earth began at an early age when he helped his grandmother tend her garden. She taught him the wise ways of Mother Nature which started his pursuit of applied science. Calling himself a “professional generalist,” his combination of education and experience provide a unique foundation to create and implement solutions for healthy growth.

Mike Flynn’s education and 25+ years of experience in quality assurance, chemistry, industrial microbiology, and horticulture, provide him a unique foundation for understanding and application of many environmental technologies.

Before starting GreenQuest, his career highlights included managing a 22 person laboratory contract for the USEPA Region V Central Regional Lab, which provided environmental analytical services to the EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office for monitoring chemical and biological parameters in water and sediment samples. He also  implemented numerous QA/QC programs for a variety of activities including analytical laboratories, an enzyme production company, a medical device company, a food processor and a commercial composter.

In the area of applied microbiology, he has formulated a number of biological products including biostimulants, enzymes, and cultured microbes for use, in such applications as septic treatment, composting, vermicomposting and plant and soil biofertilizers.

In addition to leading GreenQuest, Mike is president of BioSpecific LLC, which works with large scale conventional & organic leafy green growers to improve their businesses, utilizing a range of interactive approaches which provide custom solutions to improve production.

  • 1983 M.S. Foods and Nutrition, Northern Illinois University
  • 1977 B.S. Chemistry, Illinois Benedictine University
  • 2002 Certified HACCP Auditor (American Society for Quality)
  • 2002 Certified Food Service Sanitation Manager (Illinois Department of Public Health)
  • 2001 Certified Quality Auditor (American Society for Quality)
  • 2004 IOAC Training for Organic Processor and Handler Inspector
  • 2004 Wisconsin Forward Award Performance Excellence Examiner (www.forwardaward.org)

Mike is never satisfied with yesterday’s results. Instead, he is committed to a continuous improvement cycle that includes the grower as a key contributor to ever-better outcomes.

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